Spring selecting and feeding machine



1951 w. K. M INERNEY ET AL 2,578,433

SPRING SELECTING AND FEEDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1949 luvem'oas WILUAM KMQNERNEY JAM'Es M. MqNERNEY ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1951 w MCI NERNEY ETAL 2,578,438

SPRING SELECTING AND FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w WILLIAM K.M-lwsra-ev JAMES M. MINERNEY 21/ w Fwd/425 7? Dc- 11, 19 w. K. MQINERNEY ETAL 2,578,438

SPRING SELECTING AND FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 5, 19,49

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1a 5 7 I Hi! Y Gr. 9 lNvsNToRs WlLLlAM KMQINERNEY JAMES MM lNERNEY Awoausvs Patented Dec. 11, 1951 SPRING SELECTING AND FEEDING MACHINE William K. McInerney and am es M. McInerney, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application July 5, 1949, Serial No. 103,152

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a spring selecting and feeding machine which is for the purpose of selectively feeding coiled cushion springs, which are used in cushion spring structures, as in the seats and backs of automobiles, in upholstered chairs and other similar structures. Such springs in use are retained within fabric pockets each of which receives one of the springs, the pockets being closed at both ends and with a plurality of the pockets connected together to provide a row or line of the pocket closed springs, a number of such rows being used assembled together in a completed spring structure, such as an automobile seat or back or the like, being covered with suitable upholstering and cloth, leather or other covering.

In such spring structures, the strengths of the coiled cushion springs at different positions in the structure, preferably vary, some being of greater strength and of various gauges than others particularly at parts of the completed spring structure where the greatest weight or greatest service is undergone by the springs. The springs are individually inserted in the pockets by another machine which, while used with the machine of the present invention, is not a part of this invention but is to be the subject matter of an application for patent in itself. We have previously filed in the United States Patent Ofiice an application bearing Serial No. 764,202, filed July 28, 1947, relating to the pocket spring receiving cover for a plurality of such springs and, there has also been filed an application having Serial No. 791,712, filed December 15, 1947, showing a spring loading machine of the general type for handling the springs after they have been properly selected and delivered by the machine of the present invention. The machine of the present invention may be associated therewith for the selection and feeding of the different strength springs at thev proper intervals of time, for subsequent insertion into and containing within the fabric pockets.

With the present invention, it is an object and purpose thereof to provide a verypractical and efficient machine wherein an attendant of the machine places springs of different strengths in different ways or troughs to receive them, identical springs always being supplied in the same ways, and the machine operating to move said springs in said ways or troughs and deliver them properly as Wanted at the delivery end of the machine at the times when the particular strengths of springs are wanted for subsequent utilization thereof in leading into and covering within fabric pockets to receive them. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine serving the functions stated which is certain and sure in its operation, and by means of which a large quantity handling and proper selection and feeding of the springs is attained.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the spring selecting and feeding machine of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevation of the machine at the upper portion thereof, illustrating the mechanism by which selected springs in troughs are successively feda predetermined distance and showing the mechanism in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing the spring feeding mechanism in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the parts in still another position at which the feeding is stopped.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the machine, substantially on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a similar section, substantially on the .plane of line 6-45 of Fig. 1, said sections being taken looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the selecting drum and associated parts of the machine, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section substantially on the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

In the construction of the machine, the spaced sides of a supporting frame, each consists of an upwardly inclined elongated bar I which is supported adjacent and between its ends by vertical posts 2, horizontal bars 3 connecting with the posts, and suitable cross bars also connect the posts and other posts to provide an ample rigid frame structure.

The troughs or ways 4 extend from the lower to the upper end of the frame, paralleling the upper bars I, and spaced a distance above them. They are supported in fixed relation to the frame by suitable supports extending downwardly from such troughs or ways to the frame below them. Each way consists of two spaced arcuate plates 4 forming together a generally semi-circular elongated trough, in which the coiled cushion springs imaybe placed lengthwise. The two parts-4 of each trough or Way are separated at their lower portions by an elongated open slot the full length of each trough or way from its lower to its upper end. Such troughs or ways are located side by side in parallel relation and in the disclosure as made there are nine of them (Fig. located between the sides of the frame, each adapted to have the coiled springs 5 placed therein.

Under each of the troughs or ways 4, an .endless chain 5 is mounted running around idle wheels I at the upper delivery end of the machine loosely mounted upon a cross shaft 8. At the opposite and lower ends of the machine the chains run around sprocket wheels 9 loosely mounted upon a cross shaft ill which-is mounted so that it may be adjusted to tension the chains upon slack occurring through wear or other reasons. Each chain, at spaced intervals in its length, is provided with a sprin pusher member H rigidly connected each to a special link i2, such links being located at equally spaced distances apart in the length of each chain, the members ii extending away from the chain at right angles as shown. The upper run of the chain carryin such members H moves them through the slots between the two sides of each trough or way, whereby a coiled cushion spring 5 located in front of any of the pusher members H is moved upwardly from the lower to the upper delivery end of the machine. The links [2 are of a special structure consisting each of a fiat block at each end with a reduced portion to which the adjacent side links of the next adjacent links of the chains are connected.

At the upper delivery end of the machine a chute is mounted having spaced ends it of fiat metal one at each side of the frame of the machine and extending downwardly, at their lower end portions having inwardly converging side extensions l3a (Fig. 6). A transverse plate l4 extends between the inclined end sections lea and is permanently secured thereto at their inner edges. Other plates [5 in pairs spaced from each other as in Fig. v6 divide the spaces between the sides 13 and the exensions 13a thereof into three delivery chutes. The trough members 5 are connected to generally vertical separator plates I6 which at their upper edges are secured to a cover plate ll, also to which the ends it and the partitions 15 are permanently connected. Supports l8 for the shaft on which the sprocket wheels 1 are loosely mounted are riveted or otherwise permanently secured at their lower ends to the plate 14 and at the upper ends have operative connection to the lower edges of the plates l6. Any springs delivered from any of the groups of ways, there being three in each group, will fall into an associated division of the delivery chute. For example, all springs from the three ways or troughs 4 at the middle of the structure between the partitions [5 will be delivered to the middle receiving chute between such partitions l5 and will converge at the outlet end thereof; and the same is true of the group of three which is at each end.

A track structure is mounted upon the frame at its upper side and inclined in the same manner as the upper bars l. Such structure includes two sides, each with parallel side bars iii one over the other connected at the lower ends by cross bar 20, at their upper ends by cross bar 2|, with a third cross bar 22 adjacent the lower ends of the bars l9 but spaced a short distance above the lower end cross bar 20. The upper cross bar 2! carries, spaced a short distance inwardly from it, triggers 23 each of which pivotally mounted between its ends on a post 25 extends from the bar 2|, there being one of such triggers 23 for each chain 6, and each tri ger 23, at its upper end, having a beveled corner as shown in Fig. l. A tension spring 25 connects each trigger 23 with its post support 24 tending to turn it in a clockwise direction.

The bar 22' (Figs. 2 and 5) has a plurality of holes 25 through it, associated with each of which is a short pivotally mounted cover plate 2?, each pivoted between its ends on the upper face of the bar 22, and adapted in one position to close or cover the hole 25 with which it is associated and in another position to uncover such hole. In the disclosure made there are nine of such holes 26 and nine cover members, one for each hole, to correspond to the nine spring carrying troughs or ways.

A carriage is movably mounted upon the tracks provided by the spaced side bars it. Such carriage includes two spaced parallel sides 28 which also parallel the track bars is, and which are connected at their ends by lower and upper cross bars as and rollers which enter between the track bars Iii sothat the carriage may be moved back and forth along the track provided by the bars 1e. The carriage is of less length than the track bars l9 permitting the necessary reciprocatory movement of the carriage, as later described. The bar til at the upper end of the carriage is equipped near its lower edge with adjusting screws iii passing through it, which extend be yond the upper side of the bar so that in the uppermost position of the carriage (Fig. l), the

triggers 23 are engaged and swung counterclockwise against the tension forces of the associated springs 25. The bar 33 at its upper edge has a plurality of slots 32 therein, nine in nunn her, one above each of the screws 3 I.

Rods 33, also nine in number, extend lengthwise of the carriage, paralleling its sides, and pass freely through openings in the lower cross bar 29 of such carriage. Stop collars 3d spaced from each other and at opposite sides of the bar 29 are fixed on each rod 33. A coiled compression spring 35 is around each rod 33 between the lower collar 313 and the lower side of the bar 29. At the upper ends of the carriage a plurality of bell crank levers 36 are pivotally mounted upon spaced supports at such end of the carriage, and the upper end of which each rod 33 is pivotally connected to the lower arm of a bell crank lever 35. The upper arm of the bell crank lever carries a roller 3'! which controls the movement of a finger S8 pivotally mounted at its lower end on the same supports which carry the bell crank levers and which (Fig. 4) is normally spring actuated to occupy the inclined position shown in Fig. 3. It will occupy such position when free to do so, but upon a movement imported to its associated bell crank lever 38 by a longitudinal movement upwardly of its connected rod 33, the bell crank lever is turned about its pivot counter-clockwise, and swings the finger 38 to a generally vertical position or at right angles to the length of the carriage, whereupon the upper end of the finger 38, which is divided to provide two forks 38a (Fig. 8), engages back of a block link l2 of the chain S above it.

Accordingly, upon the upward movement of the carriage, later described, a finger 38 thus engaged with a link 52 of the associated chain 6, causes such chain to be moved with its upper run moving toward the delivery end of the machine. With the movement of the chain, the pusher members ll carried by the upper run thereof engage the lower ends of cushion springs ahead of them in the associated trough 4, moving such springs the distance that the chain is moved by the upward movement of the carriage. The upper ends of the fingers 38 are beveled at their upper corners for entrance into connection with associated chains 6 and block links l2 thereof. In the position of the bell crank 36, shown in Fig. 2, the line of force from the pivot of the bell crank to the axis of the roller 31 is slightly above the dead center line of force imparted from its finger 38 so that a bell crank in such position holds the finger 3B in its operative chain engaging position, and will maintain the spring 35 associated with the rod 35 connected with such bell crank level compressed. But as soon as the bell crank lever is released from pressure of the finger 38 the spring 35 moves its associated rod 33 and returns the bell crank lever to the position of Fig. 3.

From one end of eachof the opening closure plates 27, a rod 39 extends downwardly (Figs. 2 and 5), each rod at its lower end being connected with a rigid arm 40, each of which arms at its lower end in turn being connected between the ends of an arm 4| (Fig. 7). The several arms H have pivotal connection at one end to a post support 42 secured to the frame of the machine, at its other end being equipped with a roller 43. The several rollers 43 are in the paths of movements of buttons or heads 44 which are inserted in holes in a drum 45. The holes extend across the drum (Fig. 5) in parallel rows and around the drum in circular rows, the projecting heads of the parts or buttons 4% in any of the same series of openings around the drum being in alignment. Not all of the holes are occupied by such buttons but only selected holes, thereby controlling which of the arms 4| will be lifted in unison. For example, as shown at the upper part of the drum in Fig. 5, three of such bottoms are aligned across the drum so that three of the arms ll are lifted thereby closing three of the openings 26. The drum 45 is loosely mounted upon a suitable shaft in turn mounted on the frame. At one end of the drum a ratchet wheel 46 is connected therewith, for step by step driving of the drum as hereafter described.

An electric motor 41 which may be located upon the floor where the machine is installed, or at any other convenient place of location, through a change speed mechanism housed within a housing 48, drives an endless chain 49 which passes around a sprocket wheel secured to a shaft 50, the shaft 59 being mounted upon the frame of the machine. A short arm 5! extends from the shaft and is connected by a link 52 with a generally vertically positioned bar 53 which, through the short link 54, is connected at the upper end of the bar to the carriage previously described. The bar 53 at its lower end is fixed to a rock shaft 55 mounted on the frame of the machine, it being apparent that with each rotation of the shaft 5%, the bar 53 is swung back and forth to reciprocate the carriage, and the rock shaft 55 is rocked back and forth in unison therewith.

A short arm 55 is also connected to the rock shaft 55 moving therewith. Arm 55 is connected by a relatively long link bar 57! with a bell crank lever 58 (Fig. 1) carried upon a depending sup port 59 secured to the frame of the machine. The bar 57 is connected to one arm of the bell crank. The other arm of the bell crank 58 has the lower end of a second link bar 60 pivotally connected therewith, the upper end of bar 60 having pivotal connection to the outer end of an arm 6| loosely mounted on the shaft which carries the drum 45. On the arm 6! a pawl 62 (Fig. '7) is mounted, the free end of which may bear by spring pressure against the rachet wheel 45. It is apparent that on each downward stroke of the link bar 50, the arm 6| connected thereto is moved and the rachet wheel 46 and connected drum 45 moved one step in movement such as to move the projecting heads of the buttons 44 away from the rollers it under which they have been located to bring the next series of buttons, located lengthwise of the drum, underneath other rollers 43 to actuate the arms 4| connected therewith; and the openings 26 which have been closed are opened and other openings 26 are closed.

In the operation of the machine, the attendant stands at the lower end of the machine with springs 5 of different strengths before him on a table 63 (Fig. l). The springs 5 are placed in the several ways or troughs made of the parts 4, identical springs of a selected strength in the same trough or troughs ahead of each of the pusher members II. The springs are preferably placed therein while the chains 6 are at rest. 0n the down stroke of the link bar 60, which occurs simultaneously with the return movement of the carriage from its higher to its lower position, the drum 45 is moved its one step of movement and selected openings 26 in the bar 22 covered by the closure plates 21 a short time prior to the carriage reaching its lowermost position, in time to interpose against the lower ends of associated rods 33 passing through such openings. The other rods 33 pass freely through the uncovered opening 26, but the rods whichcome at their lower ends to the covered openings engage at such lower ends with the cover members 21, whereupon with the completion of the downward movement of the carriage, the springs 35 associated with such rods are compressed, the carriage continuing its downward movement and the rods being held against movement. This causes the bell crank levers 36 connected to such held rods 33 to be turned from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 2, moving the associated fingers 38 to upright position so that the forked upper prongs 38a of such moved fingers are in position to engage with block links l2 of their associated chains. Such bell crank levers 36 will remain in the position shown in Fig. 2 during the time that the carriage is moving upwardly on the tracks l9. This causes the chains 6 which are engaged by fingers 38 to be moved with all of the springs 5 ahead of the pusher members II on such chains moved upwardly along the ways 4. The pressure against the fingers 3B tending to move them in a counter-clockwise direction, transmitted to the bell cranks 35, is in a line slightly below a line connecting the pivots of said bell cranks and the axes of the rollers 31'. The springs 35 are held in their compressed condition until release takes place when the carriage reaches its uppermost position (Fig. 4).

Upon the carriage reaching its uppermost position (Fig. 4), the projecting ends of the screws 3! engage against the lower portions of the triggers 23 turning them to upright position, as in Fig. 4, which fingers at their upper ends, forked in the same manner as the upperends of the fingers 38, engage against the block links i2 at the opposite sides of said links acting to stop the chains at predetermined positions against the avatar momentum of the moving parts and to prevent farther forward or upward movement. The upper ends of the forks of the links 38 being engaged by the succeeding links of the chain during the short movement by momentum, move such fingers 38 in a clockwise direction sufficient to free the bell cranks 35 which have been engaged thereagainst. The bell cranks 36 thereupon return to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the fingers 38 are in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 entering the slots 32 in the bar 3% Such fingers 3% are turned from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 by the springs actuating them as the fingers are freed from the bell cranks 3% as described, and at the lowermost position of such chains are simultaneously moved to deliver the uppermost springs 5 moved by their attached pusher members I I into the delivery chute. One spring is thus delivered into each of the three divisions of the delivery chute in practice, it being evident from the disclosure in Fig. 5, that one of each of the three series of troughs each series being three in number, is simu1- taneously actuated. Of course by differently arranging the pattern of the drum :5 in accordance with a predetermined location of the button heads 44 thereon, an indefinite number of ways in which the springs may be selected for delivery from the machine is attainable. The springs dclivered from the chute at the upper end of the machin will be of the proper strengths at the proper times to go into the pockets which are to receive them, in accordance with the pattern of the completed spring structure which is to be made.

The machine described is one of great utility and is of value in saving time in the production of the fabric pocket enclosed springs which, when delivered from the machine of this invention, are delivered to another machine which receives them and handles them for compression and inserting in the pockets, prior to closing the pockets at their open ends into which the springs have been inserted.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a machine as described, a plurality of elongated ways having upwardly diverging sides and each longitudinally slotted for its length at its lower portion, means for carrying and supporti g said ways, an endless chain located underneath the slot of each way, spring pusher members connected to each of said chains at spaced intervals in the lengths thereof extending outwardly from the chains, the pusher members of the upper runs of said chains extending through the slots of associated ways, a frame mounted underneath the ways and between the upper and lower runs of the chains, means for mounting said frame for reciprocatory movements back and forth underneath the upper runs of said chains, movable fingers pivotally mounted on said frame, one for each chain, adapted in one position to engage with respective chains, means for moving selected fingers into such position with said frame substantially at one extreme of its reciprocatory movement whereby .on mov ing the frame in the opposite direction, the

fingers engaging said chains move the chains, and means for releasing said fingers from selected chains at substantially the opposite extreme of movement of said frame.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, said means for mounting the frame for reciprocatory movements comprising elongated tracks therefor at opposite sides of the frame located between and paralleling the upper and lower runs of said chains, rollers on the frames riding on said tracks, and means for reciprocating said frame comprising a driven shaft, a bar having its upper end adjacent a side of the frame, a short link pivotally connecting the upper end of the bar to the frame, means for pivotally mounting the lower end of the bar, an arm extending from the driven shaft and a link connecting the outer end of said arm with said bar between the ends of the bar.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, said bar at its lower end having a rock shaft connected therewith, an arm connected to said rock shaft, a rotatively mounted selecting drum, means connected with said last mentioned arm for periodically turning said selecting drum predetermined steps of movement between intervals of the rest of the drum, and means controlled and actuated by the selecting drum for moving selected fingers into chain engaging position.

i. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of elongated ways having upwardly diverging sides, each way being longitudinally slotted at its lower portion, means for supporting said ways in an inclined position with one of the ends of the ways at a higher position than the other ends, an endless chain located underneath the slot of each way, pusher members connected to each of said chains at spaced intervals in the lengths thereof extending outwardly from the chains, the pusher members of the upper runs of said chains extending through the slots of associated Ways in front of which coiled springs to be moved upwardly on said ways are adapted to be placed, tracks paralleling said ways located adjacent the upper portions thereof and underneath the upper runs of the chains, cross bars connecting said tracks at their ends, a frame movably mounted on said tracks for reciprocating movement, means for *eciprocating said frame, movable fingers pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of said frame, one for each chain, each in lower position being disengaged from the upper run of the chain and when turned to upper position engaging therewith to move the engaged chain on the upper reciprocatory movement of said frame, bell crank levers pivotally mounted on the frame, one for each of said fingers, rods connected to said bell crank levers one for each of them extending beyond the lower end of the frame, a lower cross mem ber between said tracks, said tracks having openings for the passage of the rods therethrough, and selective means driven in synchronism with the frame moving means for selectively closing selected openings, whereby on the downward reciprocating movement of the frame the lower ends of the rods coming to said closed openings are longitudinally moved to turn their attached bell crank levers and move the fingers associated therewith to chain engaging position.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, said selecting means comprising a rotatively mounted drum, means between said frame moving means and said drum for moving said drum in periodic spaced step-by-step movements, projections on the drum moving in circular paths, there being as many series of projections moving in such paths as there are chains and fingers, said means for closing said openings comprising a lever for each opening pivotally mounted on the cross bar having said openings, one end of each lever being adapted to be moved to position to close its associated opening, rods connected to the other ends of the levers, and pivotally mounted arms to which said rods are connected, said arms at their free ends having rollers located in the circular paths of movement of the projections on said drum to lift the arms and move said levers to opening closing position when rollers of the arms are located upon projections on said drum coming to said rollers.

6. A construction as defined in claim 4, and triggers pivotally carried on the upper cross bar connecting said tracks, one for each chain, said triggers being pivotally mounted between their ends and having lower end portions located in the path of movement of said frame, springs attached to said triggers normally moving them away from associated chains, said triggers being moved into chain engaging position by engagement therewith of said frame at the upper position of the frame to connect with said chain and stop movement thereof, said bell crank levers engaging with said fingers being thereupon released from the fingers, and a spring associated with each of the rods connected to the bell crank levers for turning said bell crank levers to finger releasing position, whereby said fingers are released from the chains on the downward reciprocatory movement of the frame.

'7. In. a machine as described, a plurality of elongated trough-like ways adapted to have articles located therein, each of said ways having elongated slots in its under side, a plurality of chains located one under each slot having the upper runs thereof closely adjacent associated slots, article moving members connected with said chains and extending outwardly therefrom and coming to and passing through said slots in the ways and extending thereabove, means for mounting said chains for movement, reciprocably mounted chain engaging means underneath the upper runs of said chains, means for reciprocating said chain moving means, individual means on said reciprocatory mounted means for engagement with and disengagement from said upper runs of associated chains, one for each chain, and selecting means for selecting and moving said chain engaging means into chain engaging position, whereby selected chains only are moved by said reciprocable means in one direction of movement thereof.

8. A structure as defined'in claim 7, and a delivery chute at the ends of said ways toward which the upper runs of the chains are movable, said delivery chute extending the full width of all of said ways, and partitions dividing said chute into a plurality of side-by-side chutes, each communicating with certain of said ways.

9. In a machine as described, a plurality of ways adapted to receive articles to be moved thereon, a like plurality of conveyors each associated with a respective way and adapted to move said articles on said ways, said conveyors being individually separately movable, means for selecting conveyors to be actuated, means for actuating said selected conveyors, comprising an actuating member, means for mounting said member for reciprocating movement, means for reciprocating said actuating member, a plurality of conveyor engaging elements mounted on said reciprocating member, one for each conveyor, and means for moving selected conveyors for movement of said selected conveyors.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, and means for disconnecting said conveyor engaging elements from the respective conveyors after the completion of the movement of the reciprocating member in article moving direction.

11. A structure as defined in claim 9, and automatic means for stopping movement of said conveyors at a predetermined position in article feeding direction.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11, said automatic conveyor stopping means being actuated by said actuating member.

13. In a maching as described, a plurality of elongated trough like ways adapted to receive articles for feeding movement longitudinally thereof, a chain mounted adjacent thereof, a conveyor member attached to each chain and engageable with articles in the respective ways for feeding movement thereof, an actuating member mounted for reciprocable movement adjacent all of said chains, means for reciprocating said actuating member, individual engaging means on said actuating member for independent engagement with or disengagement from each of said chains, and automatic selecting means for selecting and moving said engaging means into engagement with some of said chains.

14. The elements of claim 13 combined with means for disengaging said engaging means from said chains after article feeding movement of the conveyor.

15. The elements of claim 13 combined with automatic means for stopping movement of said conveyors at a predetermined position in article feeding direction.

WILLIAM K. McINERNEY. JAMES M. McINERNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,789 Brunner Sept. 10, 1946 1,021,201 Larson Mar. 26, 1912 1,425,556 Tingwall Aug. 15, 1922 

